HC pulls up authorities for questionable investigation

The Home secretary and Inspector General (law and order) appeared in the High Court in a case regarding carelessness by investigation officer in criminal case. The court questioned how the court could judge the case correctly if the investigation officer submits a wrong investigation report. This observation was made in the case of a reportedly wrong investigation report into a violent altercation between two groups following dispute in cooperative committee election in Jhabreda in Haridwar district in the recent past.

According to the case details, Jhabreda resident Riyasat had filed a case on September 22, 2018 in Gangnahar police station against Zishan and others accusing them of violence and issuing death threat.

The accused have filed a petition seeking a stay on their arrest. Hearing on the petition, dissatisfied at a reportedly wrong medical report related to violence, the court had summoned the Home secretary.

On Friday, the Home secretary Nitesh Jha and IG (law and order) Deepam Seth informed the court that the altercation had taken place due to electoral animosity.

A special investigation team had been formed to probe the case. A new team had been formed since the previous team had not investigated the case properly.

The SIT will submit its report within two months. The Home secretary assured the court that training will be accorded to improve the quality of investigation by the agencies concerned.